site.btaCameras to Monitor All Railcars, Railway Stations within Six Months to Improve Safety

A package of short-term measures that will be implemented within six months to improve rail safety includes having cameras in every locomotive, railcar and at railway stations, the Transport Ministry press service reported on Thursday.

The report of the working group appointed by the Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov was discussed at the Transport Ministry on Thursday during a meeting attended by representatives of BDZ Passengers EOOD, BDZ Tovarni prevozi EOOD (the national rail freight business), Bulgarian State Railways, National Railway Infrastructure Company, Executive Agency Railway Administration, National Transport Investigation Board, among others.

Additional functionality will be added to the GPS train speed control system to notify carriers and train dispatchers of speeding. Mobile operators will be required to increase the range of transmitters in locations with poor coverage.

A database will be established on the current level of safety in rail transport and on safety violations in key positions. The goal is to reduce the recurrence of breaches, since data shows that 80% of railway incidents are caused by subjective factors and poor control.

Within a month, the organizational structure is to be simplified, and a movement ban is to be introduced in sections with no working safety equipment.

Safety staff breaks will be strictly enforced, and there will be a complete ban on second contract working by safety staff. All modernization and rehabilitation projects must now contain a safety report.

The National Railway Infrastructure Company must prepare and propose a two-year plan to replace the most outdated train control systems, so that subjective interference and data manipulation is eliminated.

Longer term measures include addressing the educational and skills levels of staff in key rail occupations.

Karadjov said that after final approval of the plan, he will expect a detailed plan from each company on the timeframe in which the measures will be implemented. A weekly progress report will also be required.